|
NEXTnc's conversation with Atoll |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Erin Frustaci
|
|
Thursday, 12 July 2007 |
|
|
|
|
 Just as islands are isolated paradises, so is the sound of The Atoll. The Fort Collins band may be small, but its world groove beats speak volumes.
“Having done so many shows, we communicate on stage really well,” said Cary Morin, guitarist and vocalist of the group.
Though the band has changed a lot over its 17 years of existence, it’s managed to preserve pieces of its former self. The line-up has changed and influences have shifted, but that’s what keeps things interesting.
“We really started as a world beat, world groove band which involved different styles of music from around the world,” Morin said. Since then, reggae, acoustic, rock and even techno have changed the group’s sound. Morin said the group is influenced by many other bands they encounter at various shows around the country.
“We’ve gone through a lot of different musical versions of this one band,” Morin said. “A little bit of each phase remains.”
The members all play in other groups, but play together at a handful of festivals, smaller shows and clubs during the warmer seasons.
“I’m always looking for ways to make our dance floor a little more funky,” Morin said.
- - - - - - - - - - NEXTnc's Conversation with Atoll - - - - - - - - - -
NEXTnc: Where is the most unusual place you have visited?
MORIN: Everybody’s gonna have a different answer for that. I would have to say, for me, it was when we were scheduled to play at a festival at a college in Illinois. It ended up raining that day, so the show was moved to the venue that was their cafeteria. It ended up being a McDonald’s, so we played at McDonald’s. People were walking with big trays of Big Macs and Cokes and there we were. How do you explain that? I bet no other bands on the Front Range can say they played at McDonald’s or would admit to it.
NEXTnc: If you had to play any other instrument in the band other than the one you play now, which one would you choose?
MORIN: Bass. I’d love to be a bass player. I’ve only played bass once with a band for one song at show. Until that moment, I never knew how much power was involved with playing a bass guitar in a big room with a big rig. It literally rattles the whole place and you are the source of that power. It’s really cool.
NEXTnc: What is your all time favorite soundtrack?
MORIN: I guess have to say “Reservoir Dogs”. It had lot of ‘70s stuff on it. I would say Jakie Brown would be my second.
NEXTnc: How did you come up with the band name The Atoll?
MORIN: There was a band before this that this band was created from called The Island. It was I guess 1990 or so. The guy who used to own Lucky Joe’s, at the time called the Ale House. They called and asked if could get some guys together to play Thanksgiving night. I got the then drummer and bass player to go down and play that show. We didn’t really have a name. The Atoll was the owner’s idea. He said we were much smaller than an island. “We call it an Atoll”
NEXTnc: As a band, what has been your biggest accomplishment?
MORIN: We co-wrote a play that was called “Turtle Island”. It was a collaboration with Open Stage Theater. I would have to say the whole process of co-writing it and then writing the music for the play was extremely rewarding. It was a really long process. It took a long time to get it all together and somehow get it on stage at The Lincoln Center for multiple nights. It was sheer gratification. I really dug that experience.
————
TO GO TO THEIR SHOWS
6 p.m. July 12 at Civic Center Park in Fort Collins.
5 p.m. July 14 at Longmont Rhythm on the River Fest in Longmont.
3 p.m. July 15 at Mishawaka in Bellvue.
5 p.m. Aug. 19 at NewWestFest in Fort Collins.
MEET ATOLL
Cary Morin, guitar and vocal; Pete Knudson, percussion and vocals; Crip Erickson, drums and Craig Fowler, bass | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
